Jamestown/Virginia NotesMercantilism- An economic system in which nations tried to accumulate as much wealth (gold and silver) as possible, as an indication of their national power- Nations established colonies to increase their wealth and used them in two ways: 1) to provide raw materials for the manufacturers of the home country 2) to provide markets for manufactured goods from the home country

Joint-Stock CompanyInvestors pooled money to share the risk and possibly share the rewards of expensive, risky projects, such as establishing colonies

Charter Colony - A joint-stock company was given a charter by their King to establish a colony within a specific region

Jamestown- established in 1607 and was first successful, permanent English colony in North America- it was a charter colony, formed by the Virginia Company of London, a joint-stock company - It was located in a swampy, coastal area along the James River

Problems for JamestownColonists - many of the colonists were ‘gentlemen’ who expected to easily find gold and return home - these men were unprepared for the hard work of colonization - despite sufficient fish & game animals, and fertile soil most of them starved to death - ongoing conflict with the nearby Powhatan Indians - illness from swampy conditions – mosquitoes, parasites/disease, and salt poisoning

John Smith- Adventurer & mercenary whose leadership helped Jamestown survive its early days- He cooperated with the Powhatan & Pocahontas to reduce conflict and to acquire food- He demanded that colonists work to produce food to avoid starvation

Powhaton Confederacy- Large group of American Indians in the Chesapeake region who were led by Chief Powhaton

Pocahontas- Powhatan princess who worked with John Smith to help Jamestown survive- Married tobacco-producer John Rolfe and brought temporary peace- Died of disease in England raising support for the Virginia Company

Starving Time - Winter of 1609 -10- Several problems led to the colonists running out of food: - lack of planning and farming, lack of supply from England, the Powhatan tried to starve the English out- Colonists ate dogs, rats, shoe leather, and in a few cases human meat.

“Lord Delaware”

- In June of 1610 the few remaining colonists boarded a supply ship and began a return trip to England- They were intercepted downriver by the new Governor, Baron De La Warr and returned to the colony site- “Lord Delaware” used harsh “Irish tactics” against the Powhatan, destroying their crops and villages, as they had the colonists, allowing the colony to survive

Cash Crop- A commodity that is grown specifically to sell at market, not to feed the farmer’s family